WORKS OF GOD'S POWER AND CREATION

‌WHAT IS POWER

01. Introduction
Of all people mentioned in the New Testament, the magnitude of the apostle Paul's manifestation of God's power was second only to that of Jesus. For he could show signs and wonders along with powerful messages when preaching the gospel to the gentiles ? in other words, for Paul could manifest God's power ? he could boldly testify to the true deity God and Jesus Christ.
As idol worshipping and sorcery were rampant during Paul's times, it is very likely that many of the gentiles used idols and sorcery to deceive others. Winning back and preaching the gospel to these souls necessitated manifestations of wondrous works of God's power that were fundamentally different in degree and magnitude to be set apart from false conjuring and works of evil spirits to which they had been accustomed (Romans 15:18).
As we find from Acts 14:8 onward, while the apostle Paul was preaching the gospel in Lystra, he shouted in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet," to a man "lame from his mother's womb, who had never walked." When people gathered saw what had transpired, they said of Paul, "The gods have become like men and have come down to us" (Acts 14:11).

02. Difference between "Power" and "Strength / Ability"
When referring to God's "strength," people do not tend to make distinctions among "authority," "strength (or ability)," and "power," but there are clear differences among the three. A conventional dictionary would define "strength" as "the capacity to undertake a certain task" but in spiritual terms, it is "the might stemming from belief in God's ability to do anything even when man is unable to perform the same task on his own." "Strength" or "ability" is defined rather broadly and includes the capacity to drive out demons and heal diseases and infirmities. Even walking on the path to eternal life from death by believing in Jesus Christ and all spiritual works are deemed "strength." It is given to those who possess perfect spiritual faith by which they can walk in the truth after having abstained from every form of evil and accomplished the sanctification of their heart. As Mark 16:20 tells us, "And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed," Our Lord shows the evidence of His presence with those who have satisfied qualifications to be used by Him. Even if some traces of evil are still left in one's heart, when he pleads with God and asks for His power in his love for other souls, the person can receive God's strength but it will not be perfect.

03. What is "Authority"?
In spiritual terms, "authority" refers to the "majestic and glorious might" as set forth by God Himself and can also be recognized as "God's command." In the spiritual realm, sinlessness is might. Therefore, "authority" in spiritual sense is sanctification itself that finds dwelling in God's children who, in their earnest love for Him, have completely thrown out all evil and untruths from their heart and become sanctified. The God of righteousness gives spiritual authority to great vessels who are without evil but have filled their heart with love, virtue, and magnanimity. In addition, God also gives spiritual authority to those who pray and fast a great deal for the salvation of souls and the accomplishment of God's kingdom.

04. What is "Power"?
A dictionary defines "power" as "the ability or capacity to perform or act effectively." For "power" demonstrates both "authority" and "strength" in spiritual terms, it can also be referred to as "strength accompanied by authority." In Luke 9:1 we find, "And [Jesus] called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to heal diseases," and we read in Luke 4:36, "And amazement came upon them all, and they [began] discussing with one another saying, ‘What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.'" "Authority" and "strength" were demonstrated simultaneously in order to display the "power" Jesus manifested. Again, keep in mind that "power" is the combination of authority and ability. For instance, a driver has the ability to operate a vehicle and the police have the authority they have received from the government to pull over any drivers. In this manner, "authority" and "strength/ability" are different from one another and when authority and strength are added on, this is "power." As Matthew 10:1 reads, "And having summoned His twelve disciples, [Jesus] gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness," "power" includes the authority to drive out unclean spirits and the strength to heal all diseases and infirmities.

05. Power belongs to God
Psalm 62:11 reminds us, "Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God." Think of "power" as a trademark of God: it cannot be imitated by others. If an individual is able to manifest the kind of power only God is capable of performing, that person also belongs to God. If someone deceives others into believing that he manifests God's power, people may believe him at first but his deceit will be eventually exposed. This is because there is a limit to the extent of deceitfully imitating manifestations of God's power and the fruit so thus borne will be completely different from that stemming from God's manifestation of His power.
Therefore, if one belongs to God and sees other men and women of God manifesting His power, he must be able to distinguish them with the fruit they bear. In other words, for the Holy Spirit dwells in them, they must be able to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit.
The enemy devil and Satan can never manifest the kind of power that belongs to God. For they are also spiritual beings and possess superior strength, however, they do have the strength to deceive people and make them oppose God.

06. What type of people are worthy of receiving God's power?
God gives a gift filled with love to His children who are sanctified and have come forth as gold and that gift is His power. Moreover, the closer an individual reaches the level of God's love, the greater magnitude of God's power he receives.
For that reason, Acts 2:22 tells us, "Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know." All Biblical figures who received God's power were without evil in their heart and obedient to God's Word only with an "Amen!" Even today, to anyone who is sanctified and obedient to God's Word with unconditional "Amen!" God will show the evidence of His presence through signs, wonders, and extraordinary miracles. Of course, anyone who seeks to wholly manifest God's power must first possess the faith of Christ by which he can please God but even if he has not yet reached that level, God will still show him the works of His power if his heart will not change and if he has begun the work of sanctification. Also, greater works of God are possible if the person maintains a steady life of fervent prayer..
Furthermore, even if the person has not yet accomplished sanctification of his heart and is thus unable to manifest God's power on His own, God's works can still take place though him if he receives prayer from a man of God by whom He stands. This is consistent with how Jesus during His ministry on the earth, prayed for His disciples, sent them out into the world, and signs accompanied them as well (Matthew 10:1). This does not last long, however; God's works will continually accompany those spiritual people who have accomplished sanctification.

07. Difference between the "gift of healing" and "power"
Some consider the power of God who is the light and the gift of healing to be identical, but they are very different from each other. The gift of healing usually manifests the work of setting ablaze diseases caused by bacteria or viruses and thus is unable to heal people whose body parts have degenerated or people who are deaf or mute as their nerve cells have died.
The gift of healing is given by God, regardless of the sanctification of the heart, to people who pray fervently for it in their love for other souls and to whom God deems bold vessels worthy of His purpose. On the one hand, if people begin using this gift not for the glory of God but in such an improper manner as a means to increase their own benefits, God can take it away from him. On the other hand, for the power of God who is the light is given only to those who have accomplished sanctification, once it is given, it does not diminish or disappear. Instead, as God pours out greater measure of His power when people strive to take after the heart of the Lord, they will be able to manifest great works.
God's power and the gift of healing also differ from one another in the manner in which God's strength is displayed. The gift of healing cannot heal people suffering from serious illnesses and the likelihood of the patient's healing is even smaller if he has little faith. By the power of God, however, nothing is impossible and the patient can be healed even if he shows God only a little bit of his faith.